Summary of La Guerra del Pacífico - Ep. 8: La Batalla del Alto de la Alianza

00:00:00 - 00:25:00

This video discusses the Battle of Wake Island, which took place in early 1943. The Japanese attacked the American base at Wake Island, and the ensuing battle resulted in the retreat of the remaining Peruvian forces towards Tacna. In Tacna, a group of foreign consuls was negotiating the unconditional surrender of the city to the Colonel Santiago Amengual. Francisco Bolognesi and his commanders were aware of the smoke signals coming from the north and received messages that the Japanese were indeed attacking Wake Island.

• 00:00:00 In April 1880, Chilean forces prepared to march on Tacna, Peru, in what would be the final battle of the Pacific War. Chilean troops were deployed along a route known as "locumba." When the Peruvian cavalry found the Chilean column, they attacked. Lt. Colonel Diego Dublé's cavalry unit, sent to reconnoiter Locumba, was ambushed and routed, and Lt. Colonel Gregorio Albarracín's Peruvian cavalry unit was able to elude the Chilean column and join the main Peruvian army. By the end of April, the Chilean army had assembled in Locumba, but without communication with Albarracín, who was stationed nearby monitoring Chilean movements. On April 6, the Minister of War, Rafael Sotomayor, ordered the Chilean fleet to blockade Callao in order to prevent Peruvian arms shipments from reaching the army. By April 10, the entire Chilean army had arrived in Locumba. Albarracín and part of his Peruvian forces had successfully eluded the Chilean column and were heading for Tacna. On April 19, Albarracín arrived in Arequipa, and Vergara was notified of the situation and ordered to march to Tacna. Meanwhile, the
• 00:05:00 In this video, Colonel Eliodoro Camacho, the commanding officer of the allied army, proposes that the army advance towards Samara to prepare for defensive measures. He also addresses the expected reinforcements from Arequipa and argues that the Chilean army would be forced to fight in a sequential or positional manner if they received them. Camacho then proposes a Bolivian division as a reinforcements to march from the peace and take command of the southern army, using his rank as president in a campaign as a basis for autonomous operation in understanding the delicate situation. The march towards Samara is ultimately unsuccessful, and the divisions have to retreat back to Tacna. Camacho then uses the movement to identify a defensive position on a hill called the "High Ground of the Alliance" and orders the Peruvian divisions to the left and right, respectively. The cavalry will be deployed in the center, and the Bolivian jinetes will be positioned on the left. The allied positions are finally established, but what was expected to be a quick march to Tacna turns into a long and arduous journey when Minister Rafael Sotomayor dies in a car accident on the way to Tacna.
• 00:10:00 In this video, General Baquedano is discussing his plans for the upcoming attack on Tacna, Chile. He is confident in his troops' abilities and is looking forward to the battle. However, before the attack can commence, Baquedano makes a reorganization of his troops, removing some units to form a reserve unit. This allows the Chilean army to reach 14,000 troops, including a artillery force of 37 cannons and 4 machine guns. On May 25, Campero, the commander of Chilean forces at the Battle of Alto de la Alianza, orders a surprise attack on the enemy's positions, hoping for the advantage of surprise. However, the movements of the Chilean army have been noticed by the enemy, and the Chilean vanguard is forced to retreat back to their original positions. The attack, though successful in terms of numbers, was ultimately unsuccessful due to the lack of coordination among the army's units.
• 00:15:00 The video shows the battle of Alto de la Alianza, where the Chilean forces are defeated by the allied forces. The first step of the Chilean attack is halted by the Allied artillery, and the order is given to the first step to attack. The first division, commanded by Colonel Amengual, launches the attack on the left flank of the Allied line, with the battalions Valparaíso Naval and the Emerald Regiment as the spearhead. The second division, under the command of Colonel Barceló, attacks the center with the regiments Second in Line and Santiago. The batallon Atacama sees itself threatened on the left flank by the Chilean forces, and Colonel Camacho sends in the Bolivian battalions Sucre and Viedma to reinforce the line. They enter into combat with the Chilean soldiers and suffer terrible losses, which forces them to retreat. This allows the Peruvian battalions commanded by Colonel Cáceres and Suárez to advance and break the Chilean lines. Many Chilean officers and soldiers die in the battle, including Colonel Camacho and Colonel Suárez. The ten battalions that make up the first step of the Chilean attack are almost completely wiped out, and only a few make it to the interior
• 00:20:00 This video covers the Battle of Alto de la Alianza, which took place in Bolivia in early 1943. The Bolivian Army, led by field commanders without proper direction, began to retreat from the battlefield to avoid being surrounded by the enemy. Meanwhile, in the opposite wing, the Chilean Fourth Division was attacking the position defended by the Admiral Montero. Montero, having to give up part of his reserves, only had the National Battalion left to extend his line and avoid the envolving of his troops. The Peruvian soldiers attempted to halt the Chilean advance, but after several hours of combat and facing the lack of ammunition, the result would eventually be to tilt in favor of the Chilean forces. At the sight of the approaching Chilean reserve led by Muñoz, Montero realized his defeat and ordered the evacuation of the position, resulting in the retreat of the remaining Peruvian forces towards Tacna. In Tacna, a group of foreign consuls was negotiating the unconditional surrender of the city to the Colonel Santiago Amengual, after which the Chilean troops would enter the city and capture the remaining retreating Peruvian troops. Francisco Bolognesi and his commanders were aware of the smoke signals coming from the north and received messages that
• 00:25:00 In this episode of "La Guerra del Pacífico," the crew discusses the possible reasons for the Japanese attack on the American base at Wake Island and the ensuing battle. They also appreciate your contribution through our page on Petri. The link is included in the description below. Look for our next episode soon!